Cicadas, butterflies and June bugs, oh my! Maine in September means the every day temperatures aren’t reaching fairly as excessive, the nights cool off a bit extra, and the vacationer degree has slowed down. However, the crickets are nonetheless chirping, the dragonflies are nonetheless flying, I’ve yet another monarch butterfly that should emerge from its chrysalis, and the collage bug submissions from college students in my Fascinating Bugs and Butterflies Observe-Alongside proceed to circulate into our e-mail field. Life is sweet.
Truly, you may say that “life is groovy,” in response to the bug that Grace Crocker submitted (element above). Her daughter Bonnie’s bug (following Grace’s under), is self-described as “wonky.” All the bugs on this third installment of submissions are amazingly bedecked in colours and patterns that embody: regal lace robes, lunar-lit wings, and pattern-filled components. They’ve developed from easy line-drawings to multi-colored dimensional creatures which are actually… fascinating.
One other thanks to all those that have despatched in images of their work and the entertaining tales to go together with them. Sharing the love of cloth collage has been an effective way to wind down the summer season season. If you happen to haven’t already, please do try the opposite two Fascinating Bugs and Butterflies Observe-Alongside Outcomes posts right here: Half 1, Half 2.
It’s exhausting to imagine, however it’s been lower than a month since this Thursday Night time class collection ended—a lot progress has been made on these collages already. Most are nonetheless in progress, however some are getting completed already. If you happen to took the category, hold sending in your submissions—ship us updates as nicely—there will likely be time to get extra buggy posts out earlier than the snow flies. If you happen to missed the category however have been impressed by the bug and butterfly collages you’ve been seeing, ship your work in too—and share the love.
Peace Out—and Carry on Collaging.
Studying assets embody: Fantastical Fish eWorkshop, Serendipity Quilts, Spiral eWorkshop, Facial Options eWorkshop, Cloth Collage Grasp Class, 5-day Stay On-line Zoom Lessons, and my patterns (together with fish and solar/moon patterns).
Grace Crocker
From Grace Crocker of Chico, CA:
I used to be not enthusiastic about doing an insect however completely take pleasure in these periods with Susan. At my daughter’s suggestion I made a decision on this “ bug.” Enjoyable to do and it was attention-grabbing what number of constructive feedback got here from others who had as soon as owned a “bug.” Including hippie signage and a tye-dyed background was my closing path to the period.
Bonnie Crocker
From Bonnie Crocker of Chico, California:
Meet Wonky Bob. I discovered him whereas searching a public-domain web site. Jaundiced and drawn with a barely misshapen kind. I knew immediately that Bob was the bug for me. My first makes an attempt at collage have been awkward and like Bob, a wee bit wonky. Studying the very important position coloration worth performs was an epiphany. Experiencing how forgiving Susan’s method is, was one other. I had deliberate for Bob to be a ‘steampunk’ bug. As I labored, that wasn’t taking place, so I let him develop extra organically. I’m fairly happy with the outcomes. Susan’s “Fascinating Bugs and Butterflies” class was informative, inspiring, and a ton of enjoyable. I extremely advocate her courses to everybody.
Kathleen Howard
From Kathleen Howard of Santa Cruz County, California:
I had seen Susan and her wonderful collaged quilts in Houston when she was a featured artist. Her means to color with little items of cloth went straight to my coronary heart. In 2019 I purchased myself a birthday current, her Grasp Class Guide. The pandemic hit, and a small, silver lining emerged…the flexibility to take weekly on-line courses from Susan. From these second on, I used to be hooked on material collage.
Just a few years in the past I took a photograph of a June Bug hanging on the quarter-inch wire enclosing my hen coop. Beneath the chickens have been gazing upward, curious and possibly questioning if he would fall inside. (He as a result of, round right here, most feminine June Bugs keep secure inside their sand burrows and the males do extra flying round looking for a mate.) I had many ideas about this June Bug, beginning after which eradicating a number of variations. Once I realized that he may be an endangered Mount Hermon June Bug, a local of Santa Cruz County, I assumed I ought to make him extra regal, with robes reflecting his stunning, royal coloring. And moreover, bugs are sometimes stunning. However I used to be caught. So I took the chance of the “Bugs and Butterflies” class to turn out to be impressed and work on my June Bug. It’s not completed, nonetheless filled with pins and a number of the drawing material nonetheless hooked up, however I’m completely satisfied along with his progress up to now. I used to be impressed by Susan’s Polar Bear to make use of lace. I bought and dyed lace near his pure colours. I needed to construct a material base in the precise colours to put the lace upon, in order that the white of the drawing material wouldn’t present. I sublimated pictures of my chickens onto sheer curtain material to attempt to give the impression of them on the bottom under. Third draft forward…
Daybreak Anderson
From Daybreak Andersen of Grafton, NY:
I began this in Susan’s Fascinating Bugs and Butterflies on-line workshop. I feel the most effective components of the category was listening to Susan as she labored by means of deciding on every material. Among the best classes for me was “making an attempt” to simply accept that it didn’t should be excellent the primary time round. I promote on-line and every thing I make needs to be excellent so this has been a problem for me. I feel I’m getting there although…
Sue Weidenthal
From Sue Weidenthal of Alabama:
It’s a “ability – in– progress”! After watching varied YouTube movies, and making an attempt some completely different collage strategies at residence, I took Susan Carlson’s class in Tucson! I’ve simply watched all of the movies from the “bugs and butterflies” class and am making an attempt this Creepy Crawley (eww). I needed to have her Serendipity e-book rebound because it was falling other than fixed use! Moreover, the Grasp Class, a prerequisite of the collage class in Tucson, has been a godsend. I learn and watch, after which reread and rewatch, and get extra out of the course every time.
This insect got here from Susan’s on-line class. She stored saying “go greater”, and so I did. Eek!
I had determined to do the physique orange, which I noticed would contact on pink and yellow. The farther I received into the physique, the extra it developed! I don’t see the heavy orange I had envisioned! I’m stopping right here, will glue it down, after which will transfer onto the wings. I intend for them to be blue, with touches of purple and even some inexperienced… And I’m anxious to see what really happens once I begin getting items up there!
Concerning my “a-ha” moments:
There are such a lot of! Before everything, I must be taught to decide to a pallet. I battle with limitations as a result of there are such a lot of stunning items of cloth, and I’m having a tough time seeing how they may mix as soon as they’re really on my canvas. I’m doing higher, however I’ve an extended technique to go! I suppose the essential half is that I lastly understand the significance of committing to this step.
Neil Jackman
From Neil Jackman of Maclean, NSW, Australia:
I had accomplished a few collage quilts then discovered in regards to the “Fly on the wall” periods which I completely loved and gained numerous info. I had all the time thought that I actually wanted to begin utilizing colors and patterns from completely different materials and once I discovered that Susan was doing Bugs and Butterflies, I made a decision this could be the best alternative to do this.
It was nice with the ability to use the identical sample as we have been watching on the zoom conferences and after seeing what Susan did, it was then nice enjoyable to do this out by myself model. It was a problem to make use of completely different materials that I usually wouldn’t use however determined to go together with a collection of Australian indigenous materials and I’m proud of how it’s turning out. I additionally thought the wings might need regarded a bit heavy so determined to strive utilizing some lace as within the right-hand wing which definitely helps. Now to complete the wings, put some curiosity into the background after which the ultimate touches.
Our subsequent Thursday Night time providing begins subsequent week with:
Fly on the Wall: Susan Carlson Studio Watch—African Wax-Print Cloth Collage Leopard—Half 2
September 12 & 19, October 10 & 17, 2024—7:00 p.m. Japanese Time
Every session will final roughly 1-1/2 hours.
All periods will likely be recorded for viewing later for those who can’t attend a number of.
Worth: $78
USE THIS LINK TO REGISTER
For extra info click on right here.
Be a “Fly on the Wall” as I proceed to work on my African wax-print material collage leopard, now named T’swana. I started this material portrait final November, in a earlier Fly on the Wall: Studio Watch collection. Inside these 4 weeks, I completed the primary draft of her facial options, as you see above—and under, in a brief overview of the the primary 4 periods.
